It depresses me reading about the candidates for the Republican presidential nomination and how they lack manners (Rick Perry repeatedly interrupting Mitt Romney at the debate), critical thinking skills (Rick Santorum and his DADT repeal = social experimentation nonsense) and contact with reality (Michelle Bachmann . . . enough said).
It angers me to read the latest quote from Glenn Beck, claiming that the Occupy Wall Street protesters would, if given the chance, drag capitalists out into the street and murder them. Not to mention the back and forth between rightwing and leftwing media figures. I can almost hear them now:
"The OWS movement is the leftwing version of the Tea Party!"
"Nuh uh! Is not! The Tea Party are true patriots! The OWS protestors are dangerous, criminal, Marxist radicals!"
"Shut up, you're stupid! OWS represents real Americans, the Tea Party are racist, bigoted rednecks who want to line the pockets of the top 1%!"
"Blah blah blah!"
"Blah blah blah!"
Human beings are capable of such great things. And humanity has come so far during it's relatively brief time occupying this planet. But imagine how much greater we might be were it not for our tendency to hate each other. To be intolerant of those that are different. To refuse compromise. To close our minds to other points of view and press our beliefs on others. To use arguments based on emotional manipulation instead of logic and reason.
I don't want to despise the Republican party. Nearly everyone in my family is Republican, and I am sympathetic to some of their values, such as personal and fiscal responsibility. But when some of the most influential and vocal members of the party proudly exhibit what I consider some of the most frustrating and destructive weaknesses of humanity . . . well I really can't see myself supporting any of them, that's for sure.
But what does that mean instead? Voting for Obama again? I think I'd have an easier time telling my dad I'm gay or bisexual than I would telling him I voted for Obama's reelection. It's not enough to just say he's Republican. He's attended two tea party rallies and is a fan of such media figures as Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, and Rush Limbaugh. He also was a believer in the "birther" conspiracy that claimed Obama was born in Kenya and had covered it up. He has described Obama as "evil" on multiple occasions.
I think I'll be trying my hardest to avoid talking politics with my father come Thanksgiving.
3 comments:
Lol, oh politics . . . how I avoid thee (except for election years). I should be a tad more involved though, I feel.
I always have this mantra that if I ever meet my perfect physical and mental and personality guy and he turns out to be a Conservative Republican, I might as well start adopting cats now.
Oh, and I hate the idea that Republicans "own" the values of "personal and fiscal responsibility"
Just because I'm a Lefty, doesn't mean I'm a lazy welfare queen.
@Hetero-Challenged: Haha, I don't know if I'd go that far. I guess it depends on how extreme his conservative views were. It's extremes and closed-mindedness that turn me off, and that goes for either side.
Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that Democrats are "irresponsible" or anything. I guess what I was trying to say is it seems like Republicans stress those values more. Perhaps it is also a bit of stereotyping at work though too. I know many conservatives tend to depict liberals as lovers of big spending and government bureaucracy.
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